Educational toy

ABSTRACT

An educational toy comprising a closed container filled with a liquid having a freezing point generally below room temperature and a metal rod extending into the container and outwardly therefrom through a heat insulating material and into a second open container. Upon placing an ice cube about the end of the rod in the open container, crystallization is seen to occur about the opposite end of the rod within the closed container due to the freezing of the liquid about the rod, thereby giving the effect of transfering the ice cube from one container to the other.

United States Patent 1 Meek et al.

[111 3,744,151 [451 July 10,1973

[ EDUCATIONAL TOY [76] Inventors: John S. Meek, l4 Outrigger St.,

Venice, Calif.; J. Roy'Nelson, 8741 Shoreham Drive, Los Angeles, Calif.90069 [22] Filed: May 1, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 249,088

[52] US. Cl 35/19 R, 73/356, 116/1 14.5, 272/8 N [51] Int. Cl. G09b23/16 [58] Field of Search 35/19 R; 62/383; 1

[5 6] References Cited 1 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,587,399 6/1926 Moler35/19 R 2/1942 Kuck 6/1967 Ritchie Primary Examiner-Harland S. SkogquistAttorney-Charles G. Lyon et al.

[57 1 ABSTRACT An educational toy comprising a closed container filledwith a liquid having a freezing point generally below room temperatureand a metal rod extending into the container and outwardly therefromthrough a heat insulating material and into a second open container.Upon placing an ice cube about the end of the rod in the open container,crystallization is seen to occur about the opposite end of the rodwithin the closed container due to the freezing of the liquid about therod, thereby giving the effect of transfering the ice cube from onecontainer to the other.

26 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 35 zmmm EDUCATIONAL TOY BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION It is a common experience that scientific principals are moreeasily learned and understood through visual experience than impersonalreadings. It is for this reason that most science classes taught inschool have laboratory experiments connected therewith. Sometimes thesescientific principals can be applied and illustrated to obtain noveltyeffects. Such effects naturally arouse ones curosity as to exactly whatis occurring and why. This aroused inquisitiveness combined with theproper explanation results in a quicker and more thorough understandingof the scientific principals involved. The teaching level of noveltyeffects depends, of course, on the principlas involved and the effectitself. Most everyone is familar with the change of state of water,i.e., melting and boiling. But when water is replaced with otherchemicals, a change of state occurs with which people are not sofamilar. If such a change of state can then be effectuated in an unusualfashion, a novelty effeet is created with respect to the change of statewhich in addition to is novel effect functions as an excellent teachingtool.

It is therefore the principal object of this invention to provide aneducational toy which illustrates a change of state to produce a noveltyeffect.

It is another object of this invention to provide a novelty toy whichillustrates heat transfer along a metal rod to produce a novelty effect.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an educational toywhich is illustrative of crystal formation.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an educationaltoy which is illustrative of a change of state while providing anaesthetic effect.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent upon the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly the invention consists of a sealedcontainer substantially filled with a liquid having a freezing point ofbelow room temperature and a heat conductive metal rod, one end of whichcommunicates with the liquid within the sealed container, while theother end extends from the sealed container and is adapted for contactwith ice or the like so that upon melting of the ice the rod is cooledcausing crystallization of the liquid within the sealed container.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 5 is a side elevation of a forth embodiment of theinvention wherein the heat conductive rod is hollow.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the first embodiment of theeducational toy 10 is shown in FIG. 1 and comprises a first cylinder 12and a second cylinder 14 mounted on a base 16. A U-shaped heatconductive rod 18 is mounted within base 16, one arm 20 of rod 18extending upwardly into cylinder 12 while the other arm 22 of theU-shaped rod extends upwardly into cylinder 14. Cylinder 12 is a sealedcylinder constructed of a clear plastic material or the like and issubstantially filled with a non-toxic liquid 24 having a melting pointgenerally less than room temperature. While the toy is operable in thegeneral range of 32 to 85 Fahrenheit, the preferred melting point isgenerally at or just below room temperature, which ranges from about toFahrenheit. Thus a liquid with a melting point in the nature of about 75Fahrenheit is preferred. l-dodecyl alcohol and T-butyl alcohol areexamples of such liquids. Other alcohols and ethers such as phenylethers could be used. I-dodecyl alcohol is a good choce of liquid foruse in the educational toy 10, because in addition to having the desiredtemperature for a melting point, it is non-toxic, has a high boilingpoint and is of low flamability, making it safe for children as well asadults. Cylinder 14 is also constructed of a clear plastic material orthe like and is open at its upper end. The base 16 is constructed of athermal plastic material to prevent heat transfer to the portion of theU-shaped heatconducting rod 18 which is mounted within the base. In use,an ice cube 26 is placed about upstanding arm 22 of the rod 18. As theice cube melts, it draws heat from the rod, cuasing a local temperaturedrop within upstanding arm 22. Due to the relatively high heatconductivity of the rod, the temperature throughout the rod includingupstanding arm 20 in cylinder 12 also drops, causing the liquid 24 inimmediate contact therewith to freeze thereby forming crystals 28 aboutthe upstanding arm 20. As the melting continues, so does thecrystallization, giving the appearance that the ice cube 26 about arm 22has moved from cylinder 14 to cylinder 12. Eventually all of the liquidwithin the sealed cylinder will be crystallized whereupon the solidified alcohol or ether need only be brought to a temperature aboveits melting point [about 75 F.] and the effect can be redemonstrated.Raising the temperature of the liquid 24 can be caused by placing thetoy 10 in a heated atmosphere, rubbing the cylinder 12 to heat theliquid therein by friction or by heating the rod 18 either by a directapplication of heat to the exposed end 22 in open cylinder 14 or byactivating a heating coil [not shown] which could be placed in contactwith the heat conducting rod 18. It should also be noted that water andice could be substituted for the form fitting ice cube 26 in cylinder 14to effectuate the crystallization about upstanding arm 20 in cylinder12. The use of the single formed cube, however, is preferred to morerelistically simulate the transfer of the ice cube from cylinder 14 tocylinder 12. It may also be desirable to utilize a hollow heat transferrod 18, filling the central channel thereof with the same liquid 24 usedin closed cylinder 12, thereby precipitating the crystal formation aboutupstanding arm 20 by providing a base for crystal growth in closerprximity to ice cube 26. It should also be noted that constructing theU-shaped rod 18 of aluminum provides excellent adhesion between theformed crystals and the rod, further enhancing the transfer effect.

A second embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In thisform of the invention, a translucent block 30 has an interior chamber 32therein. In FIG. 2 the chamber is shown in the form of a snowman 34,while in FIG. 3, the chamber is shown in the form of a tree 36. In eachcase, the chamber is substantially filled with l-dodecyl alcohol orT-butyl alcohol or other liquids having the chemical characteristics setforth in the discussion of the first embodiment of the invention. Theblock 30 is mounted on a thermal plastic or other heat insulating base38. A heat conducting rod 40 extends from chambers 32, as shown in FIGS.2 and 3. The rod can extend into the chamber as shown in FIG. 3 orterminate at the base 42 thereof as seen in FIG. 2. In use, the base 38atop a conventional drinking glass 44, the glass being filled with iceand water or an iced drink. As the heat conductive rod coolscrystallization begins to form about the upper end of the rod in chember32. After a short time, all of the liquid within chamber 32 crystallizesforming a white figure within translucent block 30. In the device ofFIG. 2, a snowman would be seen to appear, while in FIG. 3, asnowcovered tree. It should be noted that non-toxic coloring which wouldnot effect the melting point of the alcohol or ether within the chambercould be added to provide acoloring effect if so desired. It should benoted in conjunction with this embodiment, that if the refractive indexof the block 30 could be matched by the refractive index of the liquidin the interior chamber, the chamber would not be visible prior tocrystallization, which would further enchance and broaden the noveltyeffect and teaching potential of the toy.

A third embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 4. In this form ofthe invention a translucent house 50 is mounted on a heat insulated base52. The housing defines an interior chamber 54 which is substantiallyfilled with the suitable alcohol or ether, as defined in the firstembodiment. A heat conductive rod 56 communicates with interior chamber54 and terminates in an aesthetic design, a star 58 being shown in FIG.4. The third embodiment is then used as the second, wherein the base 52is placed over a glass containing an iced drink'or the like. The rodcools and crystallization 60 begins to form about a metal figure 58.

A variation of the third embodimentis shown in FIG. 5, wherein theformed heat conductive rod 62 is hollow and adapted to receive coldwater or the like therein. A stop 64 is provided at the lower end offormed rod 62 to seal the cold water therein. The water within theformed rod cools the rod causing crystallization to occur on theexterior of the rod, thereby presenting an attractive design withinhousing 50 while illustrating the phenomenon of change of state.

Various changes and modifications may be made in carrying out thepresent invention without departing from the scope and spirit thereof.Insofar as these changes and modifications are within the purview of theappended claims they are to be considered as part of the invention.

.What is claimed is:

1. An educational toy comprising a translucent housing having aninterior chamber therein, said chamber being substantially filled with aliquid having a melting point within the range of 32 to 85 degreesFahrenheit and a metal rod communicating with said chamber and extendingtherefrom, the extended end of said rod being adapted to be placed in acold environment causing heat transfer along said rod andcrystallization within said interior chamber.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said melting point is within therange of about 60 to 80 Fahrenheit.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said melting point is aboutFahrenheit.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said housing is mounted on a baseconstructed of a thermal insulating material and said liquid is takenfrom the group of ethers and alcohols having a low toxicity and amelting point within the range of about 60 to Fahrenheit.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said interior chamber defines anobject naturally covered by snow so that upon complete crystallizationof said liquid within said chamber said snow covered object appearswithin said housing.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said liquid has a melting point ofabout 75 Fahrenheit.

7. An educational toy comprising a translucent housing mounted on a baseconstructed of a thermalinsulating material, said housing having aninterior chamber therein, said chamber defining an object naturallycovered by snow and being substantially filled with a liquid of lowtoxicity and having a melting point of about 75 Fahrenheit, and a metalrod communicating with said chamber and extending therefrom through saidbase, the extended end of said rod being adapted to be placed in a coldenvironment causing heat transfer along said rod and crystallization ofsaid liquid within said chamber so that upon complete crystallization ofsaid liquid within said chamber, said snow covered object appears withinsaid housing.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said base is adapted to supportsaid toy atop a conventional drinking glass, said rod extending into theinterior of said glass, so that upon said glass being filled with aniced drink, said drink constitutes said coldenvironment.

9. The combination of claim 7 wherein said liquid is T-butyl alcohol.

10. The combination of claim 7 wherein said liquid is l-dodecyl alcohol.

11. The combination of claim 7 wherein said rod is constructed ofaluminum.

12. An educational toy comprising a translucent housing mounted on abase constructed of a thermal insulating material, the interior of saidhousing being substantially filled with'a liquid having a melting pointwithin the range of 32 to Fahrenheit and a metal rod, one end of saidrod extending into the interior of said housing and defining an objecttherein, the other end of said rod extending from said rod extendingfrom said housing through said base and being adapted to be placed in acold environment causing heat transfer along said rod andcrystallization about the outer surface of said rod within said chamber.

13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said melting point is within therange of about 60 to 80 Fahrenheit.

14. The combination of claim 12 wherein said melting point is about 75Fahrenheit.

15. The combination of claim 14 wherein said base is adapted to supportsaid toy atop a conventional drinking glass, said rod extending into theinterior of said glass so that upon said glass being filled with an iceddrink, said drink constitutes said cold environment.

16. An educational toy comprising a translucent housing, the interior ofsaid housing being substantially filled with a liquid. having a meltingpoint within the range of 32 to 85 Fahrenheit, a hollow metalic objectpositioned within the interior of said housing and having an open endcommunicating with the exterior of said housing, said object beingadapted to be filled with cold water or the like and means for sealingthe open end of said object so that upon sealing the cold water or thelike within the metal object, heat transfer occurs through the objectcausing crystallization to occur on the outer surface thereof.

17. The combination of claim 16 wherein said melting point is within therange of about 60 to 80 Fahrenheit.

18. The combination of claim 16 wherein said melting point is about 75Fahrenheit.

19. An educational toy comprising a closed translucent housing mountedon a base constructed of a thermal insulating material, said housingbeing substantially filled with a liquid having a melting point withinthe range of 32 to 85 Fahrenheit, a second open housing mounted on saidbase and a metal rod carried by said base and thermally communicatingthe interior of said closed housing with the interior of said openhousing,

so that upon placing ice or the like in said open housing, heat transferoccurs along said rod, causing crystallization of said liquid in saidclosed housing about the outer surface of the portion of said rodcommunicating with the interior of said closed housing.

20. The combination of claim 19 wherein said melting point is within therange of about 60 to 80 Fahren heit.

21. The combination of claim 19 wherein said melting point is aboutFahrenheit.

22. The combination of claim 21 wherein said rod is constructed ofaluminum.

23. The combination ofclaim 19 wherein said metal rod is U-shaped, onearm of said rod extending into said open housing and the other arm ofsaid rod extending into said closed housing so that upon placing ice insaid open housing about the arm of the rod therein, crystallization ofsaid liquid in said closed housing occurs about the arm therein.

24. The combination of claim 23 wherein said melting point is within therange of about 60 to Fahrenheit.

25. The combination of claim 23 wherein said melting point is about 75Fahrenheit.

26. The combination of claim 25 wherein said rod is constructed ofaluminum.

1. An educational toy comprising a translucent housing having aninterior chamber therein, said chamber being substantially filled with aliquid having a melting point within the range of 32 to 85 degreesFahrenheit and a metal rod communicating with said chamber and extendingtherefrom, the extended end of said rod being adapted to be placed in acold environment causing heat transfer along said rod andcrystallization within said interior chamber.
 2. The combination ofclaim 1 wherein said melting point is within the range of about 60* to80* Fahrenheit.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said melting pointis about 75* Fahrenheit.
 4. The combination of claim 1 wherein saidhousing is mounted on a base constructed of a thermal insulatingmaterial and said liquid is taken from the group of ethers and alcoholshaving a low toxicity and a melting point within the range of about 60*to 80* Fahrenheit.
 5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said interiorchamber defines an object naturally covered by snow so that uponcomplete crystallization of said liquid within said chamber said snowcovered object appears within said housing.
 6. The combination of claim5 wherein said liquid has a melting point of about 75* Fahrenheit.
 7. Aneducational toy comprising a translucent housing mounted on a baseconstructed of a thermal insulating material, said housing having aninterior chamber therein, said chamber defining an object naturallycovered by snow and being substantially filled with a liquid of lowtoxicity and having a melting point of about 75* Fahrenheit, and a metalrod communicating with said chamber and extending therefrom through saidbase, the extended end of said rod being adapted to be placed in a coldenvironment causing heat transfer along said rod and crystallization ofsaid liquid within said chamber so that upon complete crystallization ofsaid liquid within said chamber, said snow covered object appears withinsaid housing.
 8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said base is adaptedto support said toy atop a conventional drinking glass, said rodextending into the interior of said glass, so that upon said glass beingfilled with an iced drink, said drink constitutes said cold environment.9. The combination of claim 7 wherein said liquid is T-butyl alcohol.10. The combination of claim 7 wherein said liquid is l-dodecyl alcohol.11. The combination of claim 7 wherein said rod is constructed ofaluminum.
 12. An educational toy comprising a translucent housingmounted on a base constructed of a thermal insulating material, theinterior of said housing being substantially filled with a liquid havinga melting point within the range of 32* to 85* Fahrenheit and a metalrod, one end of said rod extending into the interior of said housing anddefining an object therein, the other end of said rod extending fromsaid rod extending from said housing through said base and being adaptedto be placed in a cold environment causing heat transfer along said rodand crystallization about the outer surface of said rod within saidchamber.
 13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said melting point iswithin the range of about 60* to 80* Fahrenheit.
 14. The combination ofclaim 12 wherein said melting point is about 75* Fahrenheit.
 15. Thecombination of claim 14 wherein said base is adapted to support said toyatop a conventional drinking glass, said rod extending into the interiorof said glass so that upon said glass being filled with an iced drink,said drink constitutes said cold environment.
 16. An educational toycomprising a translucent housing, the interior of said housing beingsubstantially filled with a liquid having a melting point within therange of 32* to 85* Fahrenheit, a hollow metalic object positionedwithin the interior of said housing and having an open end communicatingwith the exterior of said housing, said object being adapted to befilled with cold water or the like and means for sealing the open end ofsaid object so that upon sealing the cold water or the like within themetal object, heat transfer occurs through the object causingcrystallization to occur on the outer surface thereof.
 17. Thecombination of claim 16 wherein said melting point is within the rangeof about 60* to 80* Fahrenheit.
 18. The combination of claim 16 whereinsaid melting point is about 75* Fahrenheit.
 19. An educational toycomprising a closed translucent housing mounted on a base constructed ofa thermal insulating material, said housing being substantially filledwith a liquid having a melting point within the range of 32* to 85*Fahrenheit, a second open housing mounted on said base and a metal rodcarried by said base and thermally communiCating the interior of saidclosed housing with the interior of said open housing, so that uponplacing ice or the like in said open housing, heat transfer occurs alongsaid rod, causing crystallization of said liquid in said closed housingabout the outer surface of the portion of said rod communicating withthe interior of said closed housing.
 20. The combination of claim 19wherein said melting point is within the range of about 60* to 80*Fahrenheit.
 21. The combination of claim 19 wherein said melting pointis about 75* Fahrenheit.
 22. The combination of claim 21 wherein saidrod is constructed of aluminum.
 23. The combination of claim 19 whereinsaid metal rod is U-shaped, one arm of said rod extending into said openhousing and the other arm of said rod extending into said closed housingso that upon placing ice in said open housing about the arm of the rodtherein, crystallization of said liquid in said closed housing occursabout the arm therein.
 24. The combination of claim 23 wherein saidmelting point is within the range of about 60* to 80* Fahrenheit. 25.The combination of claim 23 wherein said melting point is about 75*Fahrenheit.
 26. The combination of claim 25 wherein said rod isconstructed of aluminum.